Psycho Essay

There are many features in the 1960 film Psycho, by Alfred Hitchcock that makes it arguable the first real slasher. There are many different aspects that define a slasher – which will be discussed in the essay.

One of the lain features of a slasher film is the appearance of a “final girl”. This is where there is one woman who appears sweet and innocent, who survives until the end of the film when everyone else dies. This rule is partially applied in Psycho when Marion’s boyfriend also survives, which is unusual because he has sex at the beginning of the film.

Another aspect that makes a slasher is a weapon of choice – usually unconventional. This is definitely shown in Psycho in the famous shower scene, where the killer bares a knife. It is also used to kill the detective and used unsuccessfully at the end when the killer is caught.

Thirdly, there is a part of the movie where the killer’s (Norman’s) history is explained. This is a classic for a slasher theme because it makes the audience a sense of pity for the killer – and makes them seems just that little bit more human.

In psycho the killer is male (though he believes he’s his own mother for half the time) – this is normal for a slasher (the killer being male).

In conclusion, I do believe that psycho was the first real slasher – but yet has its own twist on things – the survival of the boyfriend and the fact that the killer is both a man and woman.